The first thing you need to do once you have decided that you want to become an exchange student is to find an organization. There are plenty, such as STS, EF, YFU.. I chose STS. They were the first organization I found out about, and since I was happy with them I did not see any reason to look up other ones.

When did you first find out about STS?

I saw an advertisement in a magazine, googled the company, read about language schools and booked a trip to Brighton summer 2k15!

How did you decide that STS should be your organization?

STS have been very helpful and informative about the language school trip I will attend. I have read really good reviews, I liked their website and they seem very popular and professional. I believe they will take good care of me!

I have also only met extremly passionate, kind and funny workers when I have been to their meetings. I met a language school trip leader, two former exchange students and several other workers at their office. They seem to know what they are doing! I am not sure if STS is more expensive than the other organizations.. But I feel safe with them, and that is what matters.

So yesterday, I went to the interview with STS, my organization. I will write more about them in a different post.

After I applied to the exchange student program on their website, STS called me a couple of days after. They told me about the structure of the interview and also where it would be. A former exchange student would come to a town close to me. Since I live outside Gothenburg, the interview was held at their head office.

When I got there, I met up with a girl named Louisa. I took my mom with me, which they wanted me to. We sat in a room all three of us. Louisa was really nice and informed us very well! The Interview started with a small Q&A, where I asked how the host family matching system worked, and how it works to choose courses. After that, the actual interview started. There was approximatley 25 questions, which I had to answer in English. For me it was not difficult, since I'm pretty good at speaking and understanding English. I was suprised to understand everything she said, but Louisa also spoke very clearly and she looked me in the eye almost the entire time! I'm not the best at making eye contact..

She started off with some easy and obvious questions - what's your name, when were you born, what's your nationality and is any of your parents present? Then we talked a bit about the personal stuff - expectations, what I do in my free time, what I like about my school, some positive qualities about me, how I will handle homesickness, if I have any failing grades, sickness.. Anything you can imagine! She also told me about her own experience and gave advice.

After the interview, I got sent outside the room to write a SHORT essay (really, it's just a page. I love writing so keeping it that short was a struggle). I had 15 minutes, and somehow I ended up being finished after 5, so I just sat there and read my text over and over, correcting mistakes that did not even exist. While I was writing, Louisa talked to my mother. I later found out she asked about my mother's opinion on this, and if she thought I was mature enough (of course she thought, or else I would not be here). My mother herself worked as an aupair in the USA when she was 18, so she can relate to me in some ways.

After the essay, we asked more questions that came up along the way. The entire process took 2,5 hours. I was so tired afterwards, but I think I made a good impression. I even smiled the entire time and I did not even touch my hair! (I think I have some sort of OCD tbh)

And that is it! Now I just have to wait until the end of next week to find out if I'm accepted or not.. SHIT. What did I get myself into?

Let's start off this blog with a quick introduction of me. My name is Linnea Karlberg, and in fall 2016 I will go to the USA as an exchange student! Through this blog you can follow my entire journey - from before departure, to the USA, and back again. I also have a YouTube channel.

I turn 15 years old in July this year. My biggest interests are writing, reading, cooking, baking, working out, watching TV shows and TRAVELING! ♥